Description:
Hosseini's stunning debut novel starts as an eloquent Afghan version of the American immigrant experience in the late 20th century, but betrayal and redemption come to the forefront when the narrator, a writer, returns to his ravaged homeland to rescue the son of his childhood friend after the boy's parents are shot during the Taliban takeover in the mid '90s. Amir, the son of a well-to-do Kabul merchant, is the first-person narrator, who marries, moves to California and becomes a successful novelist. But he remains haunted by a childhood incident in which he betrayed the trust of his best friend, a Hazara boy named Hassan, who receives a brutal beating from some local bullies. After establishing himself in America, Amir learns that the Taliban have murdered Hassan and his wife, raising questions about the fate of his son, Sohrab. Spurred on by childhood guilt, Amir makes the difficult journey to Kabul, only to learn the boy has been enslaved by a former childhood bully who has become a prominent Taliban official. The price Amir must pay to recover the boy is just one of several brilliant, startling plot twists that make this book memorable both as a political chronicle and a deeply personal tale about how childhood choices affect our adult lives. The character studies alone would make this a noteworthy debut, from the portrait of the sensitive, insecure Amir to the multilayered development of his father, Baba, whose sacrifices and scandalous behavior are fully revealed only when Amir returns to Afghanistan and learns the true nature of his relationship to Hassan. Add an incisive, perceptive examination of recent Afghan history and its ramifications in both America and the Middle East, and the result is a complete work of literature that succeeds in exploring the culture of a previously obscure nation that has become a pivot point in the global politics of the new millennium.
- Author:
- Hosseini, Khaled
- ISBN:
- 9781594480003
- Format:
- Paperback
- Pages:
- 371
- Publish Date:
- 04/01/2004
- Publisher:
- Riverhead Books
- Language:
- English
Customer Reviews
One of the best books I have read in a while. Gripping story line while filled with background information on a country and people I know little about.
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This book is one of the best books that I've read in a long time!!! And that is coming from someone who reads about a book a week!! It painted a very vivid image of what (I would assume) Afghanistan was like in the 70¿s, during the Soviet invasion and when they were under the Taliban rule. Beyond that it tells a wonderful story of friendship and family, that anyone from any cultural background and learn and grow from. The full circle of the book makes a wonderful and believable story (I had to remind myself multiple times that it was a fiction book!) I suggested this book for a book club that I am in and have recommended it to everyone I know (readers and non-readers alike). I would HIGHLY recommend it to anyone who can read!!!
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Purchased this for my son's English class. Arrived quickly - as always - and he has enjoyed reading it too!
- How often do you shop at Overstock.com? Few times a year
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Very touching story of a young man, his relationships, culture, and experiences. Easy to read.
- How often do you shop at Overstock.com? Few times a year
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This book is incredible. So moving with richly drawn characters woven into historical events that helped shaped the lives - for the worse and sometimes the better - of Afgans. I can't imagine anyone not being pulled into the story after the first page. I ordered "A Thousand Splendid Suns" before I even finished "The Kite Runner." This guy can really write!
- How often do you shop at Overstock.com? Monthly
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